Formula One, also known as Formula 1 or F1 or Grand Prix is the highest class of single seater auto racing sanctioned by the Federation Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA). The F1 season consists of a series of races, held on purpose-built circuits and occasionally on street circuits. The result of each race is combined to determine two annual FIA Formula One World Championships.

Formula One cars are considered to be the fastest circuit-racing cars in the world. Formula One cars race at speeds of up to 318 km/h (192 mph).

Photo: Denny Hamlin, driver of the #51 Toyota Toyota, passes Matt Crafton, driver of the #88 Zecol/Menards Toyota, for the leads during the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Kroger 200 at Martinsville Speedway on October 27, 2012 in Ridgeway, Virginia. Credit: John Harrelson/Getty Images for NASCAR.

Photo: Darrell Wallace Jr., driver of the #20 Freightliner Trucks Toyota, and Justin Allgaier, driver of the #31 Brandt Chevrolet, lead the field to the start/finish line to start the NASCAR Nationwide Series OneMain Financial 200 at Dover International Speedway on September 29, 2012 in Dover, Delaware. Credit: Tom Pennington/Getty Images.

NASCAR will return to Las Vegas for the postseason NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion’s Week — a star-studded, entertainment-filled celebration for the series champion and NASCAR fans, culminating with the highly anticipated NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Awards.

This year’s annual awards will take place Nov. 30, returning to Wynn Las Vegas with SPEED, Motor Racing Network and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio providing live coverage. As in past years, fans can expect an exciting interactive week of activities that celebrate the 2012 season and also build excitement for the 2013 season ahead.

The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, Inc. (NASCAR) is the sanctioning body for one of North America’s premier sports. NASCAR races are broadcast in more than 150 countries and in 20 languages. NASCAR fans are among the most brand-loyal in all of sports, and as a result more Fortune 500 companies participate in NASCAR than any other sport. NASCAR consists of three national series (the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, NASCAR Nationwide Series, and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series), four regional series, and one local grassroots series, as well as three international series.

October 25, 2012

English Proficiency Index Ranks 54 Non-English-Speaking Countries

EF Education First’s English Proficiency Index reveals wide gaps in English skills across the world. Women are better at English than men. This is one of many findings officially reported today in the EF English Proficiency Index (EF EPI), an in-depth ranking of English ability. The Swedes are the best English speakers of all based on a survey of 1.7 million adults in 54 Non-English-Speaking Countries and territories in five continents.

The EF EPI is published by international education company EF Education First. “English is key to innovation and competitiveness,” says Michael Lu, Senior Vice President of EF Education First. “The EF ranking should be a wake-up call to countries falling behind their neighbors - because today’s report shows that poor English is linked with less trade, less innovation and lower income.”

Key points revealed by the EF EPI include:

• Italy, Spain and Portugal at the heart of the euro zone crisis are being dragged down by poor English. EF’s research suggests that English skills are strongly linked with how much exports contribute to an economy. All three countries are among the bottom in Europe in proficiency.

• There are wide disparities between the BRIC countries, the developing nations competing to be future economic superpowers. Brazil is ranked only 46th, much lower than China at 36th, Russia at 29th or India - where English is an official language - at 14th.

• The gap between men and women is widest in the Middle East and North Africa, where female scores are considerably higher. This highlights the fact that English could prove key to greater opportunities for women in developing nations. Other countries where men are far worse than women are Italy and China.

• South Korea, at 21st, and Japan, at 22nd, perform disappointingly badly for wealthy countries near the top of global rankings of academic achievement. This is surprising because they come in well behind several lower-income countries, including Hungary (8th) and Poland (10th).

October 22, 2012

Rolex Presents New Watches

Rolex has presented a wide selection of new watches in its OYSTER collection. These new timepieces illustrate three key Rolex themes: innovation, evolution, and creativity.

According to Rolex, the Oyster Perpetual SKY-DWELLER is an entirely new watch combining practical functions and ease of use. Designed with global travelers in mind, its dual time zone display is easy to read and operate. The SKY-DWELLER is also equipped with an annual calendar that automatically adjusts the date at the end of months with 30 and 31 days.

The new 40 mm version of the Oyster Perpetual YACHT-MASTER in ROLESIUM, a combination of steel and platinum, also benefits from the latest Rolex innovations in terms of the ergonomics, comfort and reliability of the bracelet, clasp and bezel, the company said.

Oracle Team USA Spithill (Jimmy Spithill) rebounded from last place at the first turning mark of the “Super Sunday” fleet race finale to win the America’s Cup World Series San Francisco Championship.

Spithill and crew were “dead last” off the start line, but fought their way back through the fleet. They rounded the last windward gate first and held on for a 17-second win over teammates Oracle Team USA Coutts (Russell Coutts).

“The difference is the four guys on the front of the boat,” said Spithill, referencing his crew. “We were dead last off the start line but it didn’t faze these guys. We have a real team of fighters here. We’re really, really happy.”

“We’ve always said we need to be able to come from behind and overcome adversity,” said Spithill, who skippered the team to victory in the 2010 America’s Cup.

America’s Cup World Series San Francisco Match Racing Championship Results:

Oracle Team USA Spithill

Emirates Team New Zealand

Artemis Racing - White

Artemis Racing - Red

Oracle Team USA Coutts

Energy Team

J.P. Morgan BAR

Team Korea

China Team

Luna Rossa Piranha

Luna Rossa Swordfish

The America’s Cup is a trophy awarded to the winner of the America’s Cup match races between two sailing yachts. One yacht, known as the defender, represents the yacht club that currently holds the America’s Cup and the second yacht, known as the challenger, represents the yacht club that is challenging for the cup. The America’s Cup is the oldest active trophy in international sport.

One of the most fiercely competitive and sought after trophies in all of sport, the America’s Cup was first raced in 1851, 45 years before the modern Olympics. The U.S. yacht America won, giving the international sailing competition its name. It consists of 3 different stages — the America’s Cup World Series, the Louis Vuitton Cup (used as the selection series to determine who will race the Defender), and the America’s Cup Finals.

October 14, 2012

UN Secretary-General Attends UNESCO Executive Board Meeting

Photo: View of Paris from UNESCO Headquarters — A view of Paris and the Eiffel Tower from the Salon Lowendael at the headquarters of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), as a lunch is hosted in honor of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. 09 October 2012. Paris, France. UN Photo/Evan Schneider.

The 85th Academy Awards nominations will be announced live on Thursday, January 10, 2013, in the Academy’s Samuel Goldwyn Theater.

Academy Awards for outstanding film achievements of 2012 will be presented on Sunday, February 24, 2013, at The Dolby Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center, and televised live on the ABC Television Network. The Oscar presentation also will be televised live in more than 225 countries worldwide.

• Airbus’ Fly Your Ideas - a UNESCO-backed biennial competition - is challenging students worldwide to develop new ideas for a more sustainable aviation industry.

Prize winners will get a week of learning with top Airbus innovators and €30,000.

This competition enables Airbus to interact with universities across the globe and students of all disciplines, sharing insight on how the industry leader is developing new technologies for the more sustainable aviation that future travelers are looking for.

“We are looking to engage and interact with the next wave of talents who share our vision for a more sustainable future aviation industry,” said Charles Champion, Executive Vice President Engineering Airbus and Fly Your Ideas patron. “We hope to stimulate ideas and international exchange within the global student and academic community to inspire the next generation of innovators.”

Global enthusiasm for Fly Your Ideas continues to grow, with 111 teams from 55 countries already registered to participate in the 2013 edition.

This year the topics for the competition are: “Energy”; “Efficiency”; “Affordable Growth”; “Traffic Growth”; “Passenger Experience” and “Community Friendliness.” These have been identified by Airbus as the six key challenges of the 21st century for a sustainable aviation industry.

Levi Sherwood of New Zealand won the Red Bull X-Fighters World Tour on Saturday with a thrilling victory in the final round of the 2012 season in Australia over his hard-charging rival Thomas Pages of France.

Sherwood was the dominant force during the entire seven-month 2012 season with three wins, getting clear victories in the season opener in Dubai and then in the mid-summer classic in Madrid. But he was beaten decisively in Glen Helen, California by American Todd Potter, who held the championship lead through the middle of the season. Sherwood then opened a big lead after his win in Madrid but was beaten in Munich by red-hot Pages.

Sherwood was finally able to shake off his pesky French rival Pages, getting the clutch triumph he needed in the dramatic showdown battle to win the closest finish in the 12-year history of Red Bull X-Fighters. Pages dazzled the crowd in Sydney with breathtaking moves such as the flair or the volt. The flair is a mind-boggling 540-degree mid-air turn, the volt leaves him spinning in mid-air above his bike.

The best FMX Athletes in the world brought an explosion of tricks like never seen before in a Freestyle-Motocross-Event.

October 1, 2012

Harmony Project of Los Angeles Launches Academy for Promising Music Students from Low Income Zones in its Area

Harmony Project of Los Angeles is launching Harmony Project Academy to provide enhanced music training to music students from low-income homes who show exceptional promise.

According to Harmony Project, it helps low-income students living in or near LA’s gang reduction zones to develop the habits of mind they need to lead successful lives by connecting them with professional musician mentors. Music lessons and instruments are provided after school hours at no charge. School enrollment is required. Students rehearse year-round in orchestras, choirs and other ensembles that Harmony Project builds in the students’ neighborhoods.

Harmony Project enrollment has grown from 36 students in 2001 to 1500 with a waiting of 400. Students participate in dozens of youth orchestras, bands and smaller ensembles, the organizers said.

Exceptional students selected for the Harmony Project Academy will receive quality instruments and additional opportunities including private lessons, chamber music coaching, music theory classes, participation in summer music institutes, field trips and support with college planning.

• Harmony Project was founded in 2001 by Margaret Martin, a doctor of public health from UCLA. “The idea wasn’t to make musicians,” says Martin. “The idea was to use the discipline and joy of ensemble music making to help kids develop the habits of mind they need to lead successful lives and become responsible citizens.”